Destination Chesterfield

Supporting Chesterfield retailers is vital for our local economy

After many long weeks of lockdown we are at last starting to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. We are also discovering what may be the ‘new normal’.

Social distancing is becoming a way of life, and for a friendly town like Chesterfield, this is something people can’t find easy or natural. However, I feel positive about the prospects for the town’s economic recovery following a recent report compiled by the Local Data Company.

According to the report, Chesterfield is one of the UK’s most resilient town centres in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that we could recover more quickly from lockdown than other towns and cities.

Our resilience is attributed to the fact that we have a high percentage of essential retail which has still been able to trade during the pandemic, including market stall holders such as Ibbotson’s, and Market Hall traders like Cheese Factor and Elliot RB & Son. This has helped maintain the strength of the local economy.

Having an open air market has also put us in good stead for the re-opening of the town as it can be easily reconfigured to allow for social distancing. As it did more than 800 years ago, Chesterfield’s open air market is once again breathing life into the town centre.

While much of our shopping has had to be done online during the lockdown period, it has made many of us realise the importance of the social aspect of shopping, and the ability to ‘shop local’. We miss the opportunity to bump into friends and acquaintances and enjoy the sights and sounds of the town centre while out shopping.

During lockdown we have truly witnessed Chesterfield become a ghost town through no fault of our own. We should treat this experience as a warning, just like Charles Dickens’ the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. With an empty town centre during lockdown, people have had a real chance to see what may happen if they choose not to shop local, and to make use of the facilities which are available.

Local businesses have been a lifeline to many people during the lockdown period. As the town’s market and shops re-open as we ease out of lockdown, keep in mind the importance of these businesses – they offer a shopping experience that you just can’t get online. Make shopping local part of your new normal.

Click here to view the Destination Chesterfield Supporting Local pages

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Visiting

Chesterfield Borough Council announce discretionary grants for local businesses

Chesterfield Borough Council has been awarded £1.27 million from the Government to provide discretionary grants to local businesses who were not eligible to receive funding from the Small Business Grant or Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Funds.

Councillor Jean Innes, Chesterfield Borough Council’s, cabinet member for Business Transformation and Customers, said: “We have already paid out over £24 million in business support grants to over 2100 Chesterfield businesses to support them during the Covid-19 pandemic and 661 businesses have received business rates relief worth over £18 million.

“Chesterfield Borough Council’s new discretionary scheme will provide the opportunity for more local businesses to receive grant support, particularly those with high property-related costs and who have struggled to trade during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

The new grant scheme opens on Friday 5 June 2020 and closes for applications on 17 June 2020.

Small businesses can apply for grants of up to £25,000, though the council expects that most grant payments will be in the range of £2,500 to £10,000. The following types of businesses are eligible for this new grant:

  • Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces; for example, business/industrial parks and incubator offices which do not have their own business rates assessment
  • Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment but have fixed building costs, such as rent
  • Bed and Breakfast accommodation providers who are registered as a food business within Chesterfield Borough Council and pay Council Tax instead of Business Rates
  • Charities in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for small business rates relief

To apply for this new grant scheme businesses must:

  • Have been the occupier of a property with a trading address in Chesterfield borough used wholly or mainly for business purposes on 11 March 2020
  • Employ fewer than 50 people
  • Have a rateable value or annual rent or mortgage of below £51,000
  • Be able to evidence relatively high ongoing fixed building costs
  • Be able to demonstrate that they have had a significant drop in income due to the Covid-19 pandemic and related restrictions
  • Be able to demonstrate the business is their sole or primary source of income

In order to apply you will need to download and complete an application form from the Chesterfield Borough Council website and provide the necessary supporting evidence. You will then need to submit it electronically via the council’s secure document management system on their website.

Further information on how to apply, criteria and evidence required is available here: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/your-council/coronavirus-information-hub/businesses-information.aspx#hub_discretionary_grants_local

If you have any further questions about these grants please contact the team by emailing discretionarygrants@chesterfield.gov.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

‘Chesterfield is Open’ creative project supports retailers to reopen

Local independent creatives have come together to combine their skills and help get Chesterfield’s independents ‘back to business’.

Local modern mural artist, Peter Barber, started painting ‘OPEN’ signs using left over bits of wood and tins of paint.

Peter explained: “My thoughts were to drop signs off with businesses as they opened, take a photo and to share them, to create a positive and uplifting message that Chesterfield is slowly opening up again”.

He added: “I posted my thoughts on social media and the response was overwhelming, so many small, independent business owners were chomping at the bit to get going again.”

Helen Rowan from Helen Rowan Photography saw Pete’s post and stepped up to help with the photography and Paul Chapman from community magazine S40 and S41 Local offered to work with the pair to share the news.

Helen commented: “I’m proud to live and work within our local community and jumped at the chance to be part of such a wonderful project to support our local businesses.”

Paul Chapman from S40 Local says, “I’ve always been a massive fan of Pete’s work and love what he does. I was keen to help and support the community.”

“I’ll be printing the pictures in S40 Local and Simon Paterson will do the same in S41 Local, plus I’ll be sharing and adding the pictures to my website (www.chesterfieldlocal.com) as businesses open to help spread the news and support them.”

“Many people have looked for alternative ways to shop during the lockdown and have turned away from the supermarkets and chain stores. If every adult in Chesterfield spent just £5 in a local independent shop, instead of online or at the big supermarkets, it would be worth an extra £20.4 million per year for the Chesterfield’s economy. Which has to be good for us”.

Many local businesses have offered services right through lock down by doing order, delivery and collection. Chesterfield Arms for instance have been doing orders and collection of their beer stocks, Maison Mes Amis have been doing their fabulous Sunday dinners to order and deliver and have been supplying Cream Tea & Champers packages to help customers celebrate birthdays and Shop Indie run an online business alongside their shop on Vicar Lane.

Peter said: “Look out for the signs around town and further afield, and if you do see one, please try and support the business, they need your help now more now than ever. Together we can support local independents and get Chesterfield back to business”.

Destination Chesterfield have put together a Supporting Local section on the www.chesterfield.co.uk website, listing local retailers that are still trading.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Chesterfield business expands despite Covid-19 industry setbacks

Chesterfield-based mortgage advice firm Mortgage 1st have continued their ambitions growth plans with the recruitment of two new Mortgage Advisers, despite huge setbacks and disruption to both the financial services industry and the housing market due to Covid-19.

Two new advisers have just completed their ‘virtual’ induction and will be authorised to start looking after clients by the end of May. A further three new Advisers have also recently accepted a position at Mortgage 1st and once their applications are complete the Adviser head count will reach 20 by the end of the year.

Mortgage 1st was established in 2008 by Jon Stones at his dining table. His passion and hard work over the years has seen his team grow from a one-man-band to a strong and capable team of 28 today. Jon has ambitious future plans for Mortgage 1st and even a global pandemic hasn’t stood in his way in continuing with the recruitment and growth of his team.

Mortgage 1st has always offered ‘remote advice’ meaning everything can be done on email, Zoom or over the phone. As well as the Chesterfield based head office team, over half of the advisers work remotely and are based all over the UK. This has meant that they have seen very little disruption and have been able to continue working as normal for their customers during the last few uncertain months.

The Mortgage 1st head office has been closed for the duration of lockdown, their team were set up to work from home safely from day 1 meaning it’s been business as usual for their clients. The team have stayed in touch with one another using video and conference calls and were even able to conduct a virtual 2-day induction course for their new advisers.

Lisa Stones, HR & Marketing Director at Mortgage 1st (below) said: “We are delighted to be welcoming two new faces to the team who bring years of experience with them. Continued growth is a huge part of our company vision and even though we have had to adapt quickly, like all businesses have, during the past few months this hasn’t stopped us, we’ve just become more virtual!”

Since some of the housing market restrictions were lifted earlier this month Mortgage 1st have already seen a large spike in new enquires as the property market safely kick starts. This is great news for the industry, for house buyers & sellers and for the economy in general.

Click here to read more about Mortgage 1st

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Chesterfield Royal Hospital retains ‘GOOD’ rating

The Chief Inspector of Hospitals has confirmed that the Chesterfield Royal Hospital has retained an overall rating of GOOD for the services it runs, following a recent visit from Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors.

The report published on Friday May 29 2020) showed that the Trust had maintained its high standards in the regulator’s five domains that asks whether a hospital is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. The report also highlights five areas of outstanding practice within urgent and emergency service, medical care and surgery.

Commenting on the rating, Chief Executive Angie Smithson (below) said: “I’m incredibly proud of what our colleagues have achieved to once again show that the care and services we provide have met the high standards set out by the CQC. Our teams across the Trust work hard to provide the best possible care to our patients and visitors. This rating reflects that dedication and gives us a solid platform as we continue our journey to ‘OUTSTANDING’.”

Inspectors visited the site in February 2020, spending three days on site to look at a number of different services.

The report, in particular noted high levels of kind and compassionate care throughout the Trust with good, visible and approachable leadership providing a good, inclusive service to the local population.

Meanwhile services were praised for being appropriately staffed with a good skill mix to keep patients safe from harm with staff quick to identify and act upon patients at risk of deterioration. It also highlighted a high level of understanding from staff as to how to protect patients from abuse, working well with other services and agencies to do so.

The report sets out just two areas that the Trust must do – ensuring staff wear personal protective equipment at all times when taking bloods and inserting a cannula. The second is to make sure Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) assessments are carried out in a timely fashion and that families are informed of the outcome and involved in best interest decision meetings.

There are also 32 actions the CQC recommend the Trust to undertake to make services better that range from patients being told how to use the call bells and keeping up to date with mandatory training to keeping corridors clear of obstructions and the appropriate storage of emergency equipment.

Director of Nursing and Patient Care, Lynn Andrews, said: “This is a highly detailed report and we will take the time to go through it line by line to make certain that we can put plans in place to address those recommendations and maintain our successes.”

Lynn added: “I would like to thank all of our staff for their dedication and hard work in achieving this outcome. We have such a strong platform to build on and this report gives us what we need to continue our journey towards ‘OUTSTANDING’.”

To view the full report, click here www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RFS

Angie Smithson – Chief Executive of Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home

Chesterfield Borough Council issue Business Grants update

Under the Government’s business grants scheme, Chesterfield Borough Council has now processed more than £22.9 million of payments to almost 2,000 local businesses.

This represents most of the businesses that the council believe are eligible for the scheme, but there are still some local businesses that haven’t yet applied.

Councillor Terry Gilby (right), Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “We want to help as many local businesses as possible to claim the grant support to which they are entitled to, but we need you to get in touch. Please let us have your application form, so that we can check out your eligibility and process your payment as soon as possible.”

Grants are available for:

  • any business that receives small business rate relief
  • retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000

You can find the application form and more details about the grant and other support packages for business here.

Once completed, please return your application form to revenues.billing@chesterfield.gov.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home

Custom Solar completes a further installation project at Port of Southampton

Chesterfield’s Custom Solar has successfully and safely completed another solar project working closely with Associated British Ports (ABP) at the Port of Southampton.

Despite the impact of Covid-19, the 120kWp solar system was successfully installed on the Ocean Terminal Coach Canopy within 6 working days, incorporating amended safe systems of work and social distancing measures.

The project is an extension to the existing 1.7mW previously installed by Custom Solar across multiple buildings on the port including the main Ocean Terminal, this means Solar is now providing over 20% of annual electrical demand.

The Port of Southampton is the nation’s second largest and most efficient container port, as well as the UK’s number one for cars and cruise. In 2016, ABP and its customers handled 89 million tonnes of cargo. They support 119,000 jobs and contribute £7.5 billion to the UK economy every year.

Custom Solar operate and maintain all of the systems across the port providing live monitoring via their own bespoke monitoring solution, full reactive maintenance and annual scheduled service visits.

Matthew Brailsford, MD of Custom Solar, said: “Once again we are very proud to be supporting ABP in the quest to source the majority of their power from solar energy, it proves what at integral role solar has in our energy future. This project is all the more amazing as we delivered it during a global pandemic and amended the entire way in which we approach our construction sites. It’s truly been a fantastic effort by the team.”

You can find out more about the project on the Case Studies section of Custom Solar’s website here.

Click here to find out more about Custom Solar

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

Shorts win Best Private Client Tax Practice in national awards

Chesterfield Champions Shorts are thrilled to have been crowned Best Private Client Tax Practice in the prestigious 2020 Tolley’s Taxation Awards, held this month.

With COVID-19 situation meaning that the annual black-tie award ceremony in London could not be held, this year’s event was run online and the Shorts team joined in to watch through Zoom together as all of the category results were announced.

Tolley’s Taxation Awards are highly regarded within the Accountancy and Taxation profession; awards which continue to recognise the finest achievements and talents of remarkable individuals and teams across the entire UK tax profession. Winning or being a short-listed Finalist for a Tolley’s award brings prestige to any team and shows recognition from a first-class judging panel.

Shorts were thrilled to have been recognised as Finalists for two consecutive years, and in a fiercely competitive category with some exceptional talent amongst the final shortlist.

Best Private Client Tax Practice This category was open to practices of all sizes across the UK, and the winning firm has provided sufficient evidence and documentation to provide the judges with a clear picture of their business and the service provided to clients.

Chris Chambers, Senior Partner and head of Shorts’ Private Client practice (right), commented “This is a significant achievement for Shorts, which is made even more special coming in the year that we mark our 130th Anniversary. It felt a little strange that we couldn’t come together as a team and celebrate our achievements in the usual way, but I was delighted that everyone was able to join together and share the news online – and we will celebrate later in the year, when possible.”

“I remain intensely proud of the team we have built at Shorts, and winning the award for Best Private Client Tax Practice backs up my firm belief that the service we provide for our clients is exemplary.  The Tolley’s Taxation awards are regarded as the Industry’s Elite, recognising the very best and we are absolutely delighted to be Finalists for the second year running – winning it this year is phenomenal.”

There were five teams shortlisted this year, of varying sizes and in the end, the judges chose the winner who showed that a regional firm with a passion for excellence, can compete at the highest level.

You can view the Tolley’s Awards ceremony here.

Click here to find out more about Shorts

Click here to find out more about becoming a Chesterfield Champion

Please note this image was taken before the coronavirus outbreak

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home

Destination Chesterfield is going on a bear hunt

Ten bears have been hidden across the websites of businesses and visitor attractions in Chesterfield, all ready for children to find over the May Half Term holiday. And they can win prizes.

Coordinated by Destination Chesterfield, the bear hunt has been created to remind families of some of the great places available to visit locally – once social distancing restrictions are lifted.

Each of the 10 bears hidden on the websites have a letter. Once all the bears have been found they will spell out a word which bear hunters can then enter in a free prize draw for the chance to win tickets for future use at local venues.

Prizes include a family ticket for Barrow Hill Roundhouse, a family ticket for Matlock Farm Park, two pairs of tickets for Chester’s Den and a £20 Chesterfield Canal Cruise Voucher.

Bear hunters have until 8pm on Sunday 7th June to complete their search and enter the prize draw.

The bears can be found on websites belonging to Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Chesterfield Community Trust, Chesterfield Leisure Centres, Chesterfield Museum, Chesterfield Theatres, Chesterfield Canal Trust, Dronfield Hall Barn, Matlock Farm Park, Ringwood Hall Hotel & Spa and Straightcurves.

A number of the businesses and venues involved in the bear hunt have adapted their services during lockdown. Straightcurves is providing virtual creative workshops and Chesterfield Museum has offered a selection of family activities and a virtual tour.

Tara Underhill, Senior Destination Chesterfield Coordinator explained: “It has been great to work with 10 local leisure businesses to offer a fun bear hunt competition for families during lockdown. While enjoying the bear hunt and visiting the websites, it’s a great opportunity for families to enjoy many of the venues virtually.”

The bear hunt is part of a special package of support Destination Chesterfield’s is delivering to Champions during the COVID-19 crisis. Earlier this month it launched a mini website – www.chesterfield.co.uk/supportinglocal – giving details of more than 100 shops, food and drink businesses, training, venues, support and service providers in and around Chesterfield that are continuing to operate by adapting their services to meet the needs of the community.

Tara added: “As the town’s marketing campaign we work with over 180 local businesses, known as Chesterfield Champions, to raise the profile of the town. We have been keen to provide business and marketing support to help organisations navigate through these challenging times.  Many of the businesses have continued to engage with their customers online and we are keen to encourage these interactions during their temporary closure period and throughout their plans for recovery.”

Destination Chesterfield is also asking bear hunters to share their photos along with #lovechesterfield to show their support for leisure businesses in Chesterfield.

To find out more about Chesterfield Champions, visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/destination-chesterfield/champions/.

To take part in Destination Chesterfield’s bear hunt visit https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/visiting/competitions/.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Funding for part of Chesterfield Station Masterplan approved

D2N2, the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, has approved a £3.8m grant towards the construction of the Hollis Lane Link Road in Chesterfield.

The £7.42m project will form a critical part of the Chesterfield Station Masterplan, bringing forward wholescale regeneration and supporting sustainable economic growth in the centre of Chesterfield. This regeneration will include new commercial development, as well as significantly improved connectivity.

D2N2 will be funding the development through its Local Growth Fund allocation, an investment programme to support projects that benefit the regional economy.

The funding for the Hollis Lane Link Road follows similar awards for infrastructure projects that benefit Chesterfield residents including the A61 Corridor, HS2-related development, and the Chesterfield Higher Level Skills Centre worth a combined £10.57m.

The new Hollis Lane Link Road will extend from the junction of Hollis Lane and Spa Lane and will terminate at the southern extent of the Chesterfield Station car park, providing direct access to the railway station from the south.

Furthermore, the Hollis Lane Link Road will unlock 0.92 hectares of early development plots within the Chesterfield Station Masterplan area which it is hoped will lead to over 500 jobs being created by businesses moving into the new development.

Remedial works are due to begin in September 2020 with work expected to be completed by late 2021.

D2N2 Chair Elizabeth Fagan CBE said: “Our investment into the construction of the Hollis Lane Link Road will be another important milestone for Chesterfield’s regeneration ambitions, bringing significant growth and investment opportunities whilst creating more homes, jobs, and learning places.”

“D2N2 is pleased to support investment in our town centres to stimulate economic growth which will be central to supporting the region’s recovery from the impact of Covid-19.”

Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, Councillor Simon Spencer, said: “The Hollis Lane Link is a great example of the ambitious work now being undertaken by the Joint Growth Board.”

“It is a key part of the Chesterfield Masterplan which will bring a range of economic benefits to the town and surrounding area.”

The Joint Growth Board is body set up between Chesterfield Borough Council and Derbyshire County Council tasked with delivering key regeneration projects which will aid the borough’s growth strategy.

Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, Councillor Tricia Gilby, said: “The Hollis Lane Link road adds value to the work we are already doing on the emerging station masterplan, which is a significant project for Chesterfield and northern Derbyshire’s economy.”

“We are in the process of finalising the station master plan and will be undertaking public consultation later this year.”

“The station masterplan will define our aspirations for the economic future of the area and we continue to work closely with partner agencies to maximise this huge opportunity for Chesterfield Borough and beyond.”

Click here to find out more about HS2 and the Chesterfield Station Masterplan

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Visiting

Nominations for the Peak FM Awards 2020 are now open

Peak FM are urging residents of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire to submit their nominations for the Peak FM Awards 2020, which will be taking place virtually in June.

Peak FM is once again looking to recognise the amazing achievements of people from across the Chesterfield area; those who have made a difference to their community, shown courage or helped make the lives of others that little bit better.

In the interests of safety and maintaining social distance, the Peak FM Awards will for the first time be held as a virtual ceremony. The awards ceremony will take place throughout the day on Friday 5th June through Peak FM’s digital platforms and via their daytime shows.

Award recipients will be selected from Peak FM listener nominations and local news stories by a Peak FM judging panel who will consider every nomination received.

Nominations are now open for the following award categories:

  • Carer of the Year
  • Family of the Year
  • Child or Teenager of Courage
  • NHS Hero
  • Home Grown Talent
  • Act of Kindness
  • Fundraiser of the Year

Anyone can be nominated for a Peak FM award and they can be nominated under more than one category.

The Peak FM judging panel will make sure the nominations are considered for all relevant awards. Peak FM will choose the appropriate winner based on content of the nominations rather than amount of nominations.

Nominations close on May 28th at 12 noon.

Click here to nominate

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Made in Chesterfield, Summer, Visiting